My overall impression
http://blog.heymelpomene.com/2011/06/trouble-with-words-at-actors-circle.html
The Trouble With Words, Gregory Nabours’ new song cycle about all of the things people want to say, cannot say and choose not to say, debuts this month as part of the sophomore year of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The talented cast, made up of Coeurage regulars as well as a few new faces, finds their voice while portraying a series of characters in unrelated scenes, each tied only by the urgency of having something to say.
Some of the songs are touching, some are cheeky, but all are memorable. Opening with an ensemble piece setting the theme for the evening, the show quickly breaks down into a series of solos and duets. The onstage musicians provide the only constant, creating a character of their own with a vivid storytelling role.
One of the early highlights of the show is Aimee Karlin’s interpretation of a sidewalk prophet, sign in hand and beatifically imploring the passersby to think about what she has to say; to at least listen. If you’ve ever spent much time on Hollywood Boulevard, it is difficult not to be convicted by this piece and Ms. Karlin’s powerhouse voice will not allow you to avoid this confrontation.
In “I Remember Christmas,” Julianne Donnelle vividly conveys the tender, fragile memories of a woman looking back on her life and hanging on to the tiny, magical moments while casting aside the sour.
Josh Eddy, Chris Roque and Ryan Wagner are reminiscent of the sailors of South Pacific with the hilarious and crowd pleasing “Gotta Get Laid,” a song similar in theme if not in tone to a later Josh Eddy solo, “Kid with a Heart On.”
In the whiskey-drenched “The Ballerina’s Lament,” Sarah Phillips writes off her childhood dreams being traded for a carton of cigarettes by calling “bull shit!," all while balancing her vocal chops with some light physical comedy. Ms. Phillips has excellent comedic timing and is pure fun to watch, almost overshadowing the song itself with her hilarious asides and cutting glances.
The only trouble with The Trouble With Words periodically comes from…well…the words. In a issue that can perhaps be traced to the venue size, the vocals are often overpowered by the music, leaving the audience repeatedly straining to hear and understand the lyrics.
Sound issue aside, this is a fantastic piece by one of the most exciting and talented theater companies in town. Definitely GO and do it before the rest of the run sells out, as I have no doubt it will.
